POPULATION DENSITY, DIVERSITY AND DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES OF SELECTED BUTTERFLY SPECIES IN CHIMMONY WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, KERALA

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Date
2018
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COLLEGE OF VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES, POOKODE WAYANAD
Abstract
Population density, diversity and developmental stages of selected butterfly species in Chimmony Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala was studied from April to June 2018. A total of 141 species of butterflies belonging to two orders, six families and 103 genera were recorded. Among different butterflies, 15 species were recorded as endemic and 20 species were reported under various schedules. The majority of butterfly species were belong to family Nymphalidae and Lycanidae. The species richness and species diversity was higher in Semievergreen forest (114) and the dominance was higher in the moist deciduous forest (0.09). Endemic species recorded were Indian Ace, Orchid Tit, Shiva sunbeam, Blue oakleaf, Danid eggfly, Gladeye bushbrown, Malabar tree nymph, Tailed palmfly, etc. Common lineblue and Common crow and Common Emigrant are the most abundant butterflies in the study area. The size of butterflies varies significantly among families with the largest sized butterflies recorded in Papilionidae and Nymphalidae and smallest sized butterflies from Hesperidae and Lycanidae. The factors that determine butterfly detection during the count was determined using multiple regression. The number of detections had linear relation with abundance and size of the butterflies. The model was highly significant and explained 31.3% of variation in the detection of butterflies (F=41.08; df=3; p<0.00). Abundance had primary influence on detection followed by size of the butterflies. Further studies on relative detectability of difference species of butterflies in the diversity and abundance estimation would help in refining methods of assessment. Developmental stages of Grass demon (Udaspes folus) and Nilgiri Grass Yellow (Eurema nilgiriensis) were studied. Nilgiri grass yellow butterfly eggs were hatched on third day and there were two rapid growth phase and complete development took 21 days. Development of Grass demon was monitored in three different host plant Red ginger (Alpinia purpurata), Ginger (Zingiber officinale) and Turmeric (Curcuma longa). The number of days for the development varied in different host with lowest in Red ginger followed by Turmeric and Ginger with 48 18, 20 and 23 days. There were significant difference in the larval growth between the Ginger and Red ginger (t=-3.09; df=17; p<0.01). Nutrient content of host plants of Grass demon, such as crude protein, total ash, crude fat and moisture content were higher in Ginger followed by Turmeric and Red ginger. Crude protein, total ash and crude fat and moisture content was higher in the Ginger. The mean size increase of caterpillar was higher 0.278 in Ginger than other two host plants, but the number of days took for development was higher. Higher protein content in the host plant could have resulted in the increased size of the caterpillar and longer duration of development. The major threats for the butterfly species recorded were the invasion of weed plants, fire and cattle grazing that threatens the host plant abundance and butterfly abundance in the study area.
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